NYPL Aberdeen IronBirds

Scrappers Beat IronBirds, 3-1

July 30, 2013 - New York-Penn League (NYPL)
Aberdeen IronBirds News Release


Aberdeen, MD- The IronBirds' offense had trouble scoring, and despite solid pitching, fell in the opener of a three-game set against the Mahoning Valley Scrappers, 3-1.

The game shaped up as a pitcher's duel in the early going. Both starters, dueling lefties Steven Brault and Kenny Mathews, had identical lines in their first two innings - no hits, no walks, and two strikeouts.

The IronBirds ran, however, ran into trouble in the third. They lost third baseman Hector Veloz for the game after he left with an apparent injury. Then, with one out and the bases loaded, a sac fly and an error gave the Scrappers a 2-0 lead on two unearned runs.

In the bottom of the third, the IronBirds would start a rally of their own. Austin Wynns would lead off with a single to left, extending his hitting streak to nine games. Over the course of the hit streak, Wynns has 14 hits, and has raised his batting average from .175 to .270 in that period. George Barber followed with another hit, and the IronBirds had two runners on with nobody out. But Mathews would settle down, retiring the next two batters before inducing a hard line out to third out of Jeff Kemp.

Dylan Rheault would come on for Brault in the fourth inning, and would pitch very well in relief. Rheault would get the game into the eighth inning, pitching four scoreless innings, allowing only two hits and walking only one while striking out four, including the last three batters he faced.

However, Scrappers reliever Cole Sulser would match Brault pitch for pitch, throwing four scoreless innings of his own, and allowing only one hit, a single to the rehabbing Steve Clevenger.

In the eighth, the Scrappers would tack on a run on a two-out RBI triple off the bat of shortstop Paul Hendrix.

But the IronBirds would get that run right back, finally getting on the board in the bottom of the eighth. With two out and a runner on third, Sam Kimmel (who had entered the game in the fourth) chopped a single to right field, narrowing the gap to 3-1. With one out in the bottom of the ninth, Steve Clevenger would single to right field, bringing him to 2-4 on the night. But Mahoning Valley reliever Trevor Frank would get the next two IronBirds swinging, bringing an end to the rally and the game.

The loss drops the IronBirds to 20-21, a game under the .500 mark. They will attempt to even the series tomorrow night. RHP Sebastian Vader (2-3, 3.13 ERA) will start for the IronBirds, while the Scrappers will tap LHP Luis Lugo (1-3, 1.47 ERA).

For ticket information, contact our box office at (410) 297-9292 or visit us online at www.IronBirdsbaseball.com.

Check out the Aberdeen IronBirds Statistics



New York-Penn League Stories from July 30, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central